Garment.



Patented May 28, IBM. R. E. LOWE.

G A R M E N T.

(Application filed Max. 3, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

ROBERT E. LOWE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GARM ENT.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part Of Letters Patent No. 675,228, dated May 28, 1901. Application filed March 3, 1897. Serial No. 625,882. (No model.)

T0 at whom it mayfconcern." Be it known that I, ROBERT E. LOWE, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to thelinings of ladies garmentssuch as wrappers, house-dresses, blouse waists, childrens dresses, and the like-of that class in which it is customary to make the front of the garment loose; but

the lining is made to fittightly to the waist, back, and bust. this class the manufacturer is compelled to provide so-called tight-fitting linings of such width and size as to fit persons of large waists in order to avoid the'return of the garments by the retail dealers; but this method of making all the garments with large-sized linings is objectionable, not only for the reasons stated, but because such linings will not fit persons of slender waists, the garments being acceptable to the latter class of patrons in all respects other than the fit of the linings.

Many ladies are not averse to wearing loosefronted garments, such as wrappers or housedresses,provided the body-lining fits closely to the shape of their corsets or undergarments; but so far. as I am aware ready-made garments with loose fronts have not been provided with linings which may be made to fit snug to persons of difierent sizes or to the same person at different periods of development. front garments for wear during the hot weather of the summer season, whichwill In making up garments of It is also desirable to provide loose- A further object of my invention is to provide an improved lining in which it is provided with stays to give to the wearer the comfort and support around the person to which she may be accustomed by the presence of corsets without being subject to the discomfort of such article, especially during hot weather.

To the accomplishment of these ends my invention consists in a garment of the class having a loose front and an adjustable tightfitting body-lining in which the front parts of the lining are unconfined at their lower edges and are each provided with a longitudinal incision and with means for drawing the same together, said drawing means consisting, preferably, of a drawstring laced through the eyelets or holes provided in the edges of the fabric made by said incision.

My invention further consists in a lining having stays along the marginal edges produced by making the incision therein,-and also provided with stays at one or both sides of the incision, and the adjustable fastening at such incision.

To enable others to understand my inven tion, I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garment embodying my invention, showing the front thrown open to illustrate the adjustable front sections of the lining. Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the front parts or sections of the lining. Figs. 3 and 4 are views in elevation and cross-section, on the line t 4., of another embodiment of my invention in which the lining is provided with stays.

Like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in all the'figures of the drawthe back section 2 and two front members or sections 3 at. The back section 2 of the lining is united to the back of the garment by stitching the lining thereto at the neck, around the armholes, and at the bottom of the liningsection to the waist of the garment. The front sections 3 at of the lining are united to the garment by stitching each section thereto at the neck, shoulder, sleeve-hole, and under the arm-seam, thus leaving the front and bottom edges of the front lining-sections free and unconfined.

Each front section of the lining is constructed in a peculiar way to make it adjustable in order that the lining may fit waists of difierent sizes. This object is obtained in my present invention by making a tapering incision 5 from the lower edge of the section upward to a point some distance below the line of stitches below the arm or sleeve hole. This incision 5 is about midway between the front and rear edges of the lining-section, and the edges 6 of the incision are reinforced by suitable layers of fabric or other material united to the lining-section or by overlapping each edge 6 upon itself and stitching them together.

In the reinforced edges 6 of each front lining section is provided the series of holes or eyelets 7, through which is threaded the lacing or draw-string 8, that is adapted to make the lining-section 2 or 3 fit snugly to the waist.

In the construction illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings I have shown my lining provided with the stays which give to the person the support to which the wearer is accustomed by having on corsets without subjecting her to the presence of such an article, which is especially desirable in hot weather of a summerseason. The lining is incised or cut at 5, and the edges of the fabric are folded over to lap the fabric and produce the sheaths 10 10, the fabric being stitched at 11. sheaths 10 are fitted the pliable stays 12 12, which are adjacent to the marginal edges of the incised lining, and these stays are heldin place by the stitches 13. Another stay 14, of elastic spring-steel, whalebone, or other appropriate material, is fastened to the lining by placing it against the lining and stitching a sheath 15 to the lining to wholly inclose the stay 1i therein. This stay 14 is arranged about midway between the edge of the lining and the incision 5 therein, and said stay extends upward from the lower edge of the lining to a point about the top end of the incision. The draw-string holes or eyelets are provided in the lapped edges of the incision 5 within the pliable marginal stays 10 of the lining, and in case either of the eyelets or holes should pull out the string will press against the stay 10 and be prevented from giving away entirely.

A loose-front garment having a lining constructed in accordance with my invention may be adjusted easilyand quickly to fit per- In the sons with large or small waists, the length and body measurement of the garment being suitable to the person. The draw-strings of the two front sections 3 4- of the lining may be loosened to permit the lining to spread and fit a person with a large or wide waist; but if the wearer has a slender waist the cords may be drawn in, and the waist of the lining is thereby made smaller to fit snug to the person.

I am aware that prior to my invention it has been common to manufacture ready-made loose-front garments with a tight-fitting bust portion and that it has been common also to make loose front garments with so -called tight-fitting linings, which, however, were not susceptible of adjustment at the waist portion of the liningnor provided with stays, so as to make the garment fit properly to persons having different-sized waists and to give the wearer the support to which the person is accustomed without subjecting the person to theinconvenience of wearing corsets. My invention overcomes the objections which have been urged by patrons and retailers against ready-made loose-front garments and provides a simple and cheap construction which may be quickly adj usted by the wearer to cause the garment to fit properly at different stages of development or according to growth.

The free front edges of the lining-sections 3 at may be connected together by hooks and eyes or other equivalent fastenings.

The draw-string is not essential, as other forms of adjustable fastenings may be used to draw the incised edges of the lining together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a loosefront wrapper or analogous garment having a tight-fitting lining, the front sections 3, 4, of said lining being united to the garment to leave their lower and vertical edges free or unconfined; each lining-section provided at a point between its attached-and free edges with an upwardly-extending incision, the stays at the edges of said incision, and the cords laced through eyelets within said stays, whereby the front lining-sections may be expanded or contracted to cause the lining to fit persons of different sizes, as set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a loosefront wrapper or analogous garmenthavinga tight-fitting lining the front sections 3, 4, of which are attached to the garment to leave their lower and front edges free or unconfined; each lining-section provided at points between its attached and free edges with an incision and a take-up adjustment for such incision, and also provided between said incision and its free edge with astay, as 14, for the purposes described, substantially as set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a loosefront wrapper or analogous garment having a tight-fitting lining at the back, the front sections 3,4 connected to the garment at the neck,

shoulder, sleeve-hole and under-arm seam, 5 (see Fig. 1,) and having its lower and outer vertical edges free, and means for expanding and contracting the lower edges of said front sections, as and for the purpose specified.

4. A new article consisting of a loose-front garment having a front lining-section provided with means for expanding and contracting between the point of its attachment to the garment and its free front edge, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. A new article consisting of a loosefront garment having front lining-sections or members 3, 4, each of which is provided, at a line between its attachment to the garment and its free edge, with means for expanding and contracting the same, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. As a new article of manufacture, aloosefront garment having the front sections provided with longitudinal incisions extending upwardly from the lower edges and provided with means for securing expansion andcontraction ofthe lining at the waist portion thereof, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a loosefront garment having a'tight-fitting lining,

the front sections 3, 4, of said lining being united to the garment at the neck, shoulder, and sleeve seams, leaving the front and lower edges. thereof free or unconfined, each front liningsection provided with upwardly extending incisions the edges of which have eyelets or holes, and a lacing-cord, as and for the purposes described.

8. As a new article of manufacture, aloose front garment provided with loose-front adj ustable lining-sections having incisions, and stays united to, and forming an integral part of, the lining-sections, as and for the purposes described.

9. As a new article of manufacture, aloosefront garment having the front sections of its lining provided with incisions and with stays along the marginal edges of said incisions, and another stay united to each lining-section at the free edge thereof and extending alongside of said incision therein, as and for the purposes described.

10. As a new article of manufacture,a loose front garment provided with a close-fitting bust-supporting lining.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

ROBERT E. LOWE.

Witnesses:

M. A. FITZGERALD, A. A. Lows. 

